Are your employees feeding ChatGPT your company secrets? Here’s why every business needs an AI policy NOW, not later!

I have recently been holding a number of workshops with CEO’s, MD’s and members of SLT’s on the topic of Leading in the Age of AI.  And whilst there have been countless fascinating discussions about the opportunity and challenges that AI brings, there is one theme that is without a doubt (in my humble opinion) the absolute leadership priority. 

A recent survey by Microsoft report that 75% of knowledge workers use AI in some capacity for their work. And when employees don't have clear guidance, they make their own judgment calls about what's safe to share. Entering sensitive company data into AI tools can inadvertently train the AI system, potentially giving competitors access to your insight such as:

🔸Confidential client information

🔸Intellectual property

🔸Strategic business plans

🔸Personal employee data

🔸Proprietary methodologies

And this is why having an AI Policy matters. It isn’t about restricting innovation, it's about enabling it safely. 

A good policy:

Protects your business from data breaches, compliance violations and legal exposure

Empowers your team with clear guidelines on approved tools and appropriate use cases

Maintains trust with clients and partners who expect their data to remain confidential

Ensures quality by requiring human oversight for critical decisions

Future proofs your operations as AI capabilities and regulations evolve

Your AI policy doesn't need to be 50 pages long. Start with the basics:

🔸Which AI tools are approved for business use

🔸What types of data should never be shared with AI

🔸When human review is required

🔸How to handle AI generated content

🔸Who to contact with questions

The companies that get ahead of this now will have a significant competitive advantage over those scrambling to respond after an incident.

AI isn't going anywhere and neither are the risks. The question isn't whether your employees are using AI tools. It's whether they're using them safely.